We left some broken hearts, broken voices and broken Croc A Shots behind us but KL was a successful tour for the new Captains Savage and BowLAH with a win win to Singapore Mens and Ladies teams.

KL Challenge – Men’s Tournament

The Scribe Savage had this to say and say and say and say:

Another excellent KL Challenge hosted by the Orang Eire, so well done to all in running a brilliant competition and a great social evening after.We sent two men‟s teams on tour as well as two ladies and a cub‟s team. There were also visitors from Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the local Aussie Rules team

taking part in the competitions.

The Singapore White Team was as follows:

K Savage (Capt), P. McGrath, K. Walsh, E. Kennan, C O Neill, D. Lynch, J. McGrath,

D. O Brien, P. Boyle.

The Singapore Red Team was as follows:

R. Lenihan (Capt), M Smith, N. Walsh, J. Clifford, L Fitzgerald, M. Brennan, R.

Moran, 2 x Aussie Rules visitors.

The group games saw Singapore in different sides of the draw, Singapore Red won both their group games over Orang Eire Yellow (2-04 to 1-03) and The Malaysian Warriors (4-03 to 1-03), seeing them into the semi-finals at their ease, with Ronan Lenihan dominating midfield, well supported by Mike Smith in defense with new boy Rob Moran (who can’t get out of bed and kept the entire tour waiting for him. Diddums – Ed). Up front Niall Walsh was a constant thorn to defenses, with former Cork boy, J Clifford, rolling back the years with some well taken points (and even more pints later that evening). Singapore hard man, L Fitzgerald, was always involved in anything good that came out of Singapore Red and not to be forgotten, the Donegal

man M Brennan showed many a clean pair of heels in mid-field or where ever his team mates needed him. Good to see Mick back after a long injury lay off.

The Singapore Whites had a tougher run to get to the semi-final after losing their first match to Orang Eire Blue ( 0-5 to 2-02), a match they dominated in the first half, but some ball watching in the second half left the Blues take the points at the final whistle.

Singapore Whites were facing early exit if they did not win their second match against Thailand/Vietnam, the Whites were not found wanting and came out winners on a score line of 2-08 to 0-02 with some great forward play from Dave O Brien, Paddy Boyle and Joe McGrath.

After the final group matches were played out, we saw the Singapore Reds face Singapore Whites in one semi-final and both Orang Eire teams met in the other semi-final.

The first semi-final saw tournament favorites, unbeaten Singapore Red, face Singapore White.

The game kicked off at a frantic pace with no quarter given by either side, but it was the Whites that settled into an early lead which was never going to be surrendered.

Early points from Dave O Brien and a goal slotted away by Ken Savage saw the Singapore Whites on their way to the final, coming out winners on a score line of 2- 05 to 0-01. Some say it could have been so different if Armagh Frank was not sitting up in the stand in the shade due to an injury, but this punter believes he would have made no difference at all.

The final beckoned for the Singapore Whites and it was their nemesis from the group stage Orang Eire Blue that stood between them and the tournament title. After 3 previous matches, the Whites had developed into a formidable outfit, with Pauric McGrath solid in goals and the defense marshaled by Kieran Walsh with his deputies, Eamon Keenan and Cahir O Neill, who were impregnable. Mid field was dominated by Daniel Lynch and captain Ken Savage, who continually supplied great ball to the hard working forwards of Paddy Boyle and Dave (heatwave) O Brien and former cub Joe McGrath, who is constantly improving.

The Whites worked hard all over the field and got on top of the Orang Eire team and came out worthy winners on a score line of 0-07 to 0-03.

A great team performance by all on the White team, with special mention for MVP, Kieran Walsh, outstanding all the way through the tournament with young Joe McGrath showing why the great work being done by the Cubs on Sunday morning is paying off. He is one of the first out of the Gaelic Lions Academy to really start to make an impact on the senior scene. So well done to all on the Singapore touring party and thanks to Hugh Smiddy our referee representative who acquitted himself well as always. Chairman Hatchell, will be well pleased after his Lionesses competed in a classic ladies final that saw Singapore Red edge out Singapore White in a very exciting Final and add to the men's title.”

KL Challenge – Ladies Tournament

Lionesses are never one’s to boast or go on – so we will keep this one short:

Coach Hatchell had clearly drunk a few too many Dr Jurd’s Jungle Juices when setting the rules and naming the teams for this tournament and the ladies surprisingly, “oh Holy God”, rose to the occasion and acted “the Flamin’ gallah’s”.

Miley Byrne’s Biddies captained by Bla & Alf Stewart’s Sheila’s captained by Bowler played well and fought hard, reining triumphant over teams from KL, Thailand and Vietnam to face off against each other in the final. The Sheila’s scraped through to take the title by 3 points - as Alf himself would say “You little pearlers”!

But the performances were not left on the pitch – unusual we know! The summer bay life savers and 12 Alf’s were on petrol at the presentation night and did Summer Bay proud – if not the Singapore Gaelic Lions.